January 14, 1942

Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945

Typed letter signed

Title: to Joseph Curran

President Roosevelt discusses "the discrimination against colored seamen, referred to in your telegram of January 2nd" with Curran, President of the National Maritime Union. States that he was previously informed that the discrimination had been eliminated by the action of the United States Maritime Commission. Discusses an Executive Order signed 25 June 1941, which instructed parties making contracts with the United States Government to include a provision obligating the contractor not to discriminate against any worker because of race, creed, color, or national origin. Declares "…

GLC06686

8 January 1862

Ericsson, John, 1803-1889

Letter signed

Title: to editor of the New York World

Wants to correct an "erroneous impression" from an article in his newspaper on his superintending of construction of an ironclad ship (the USS "Monitor") on behalf of Bushnell & Co. Says he is in fact making the ship "to my own plans approved by a special board of naval officers" under an agreement with the Secretary of the Navy dated 4 October 1861. Says he has been joined by "a few loyal and spirited citizens" who think "an impregnable floating battery will prove an important auxiliary at the present crisis."

GLC06639

3 May 1862-28 May 1863

Hudson, John Morley, fl. 1862-1863

Manuscript document

Title: Journal of the U.S. ship Shepherd Knapp

Written by Hudson as Acting Master on the USS "Shepherd Knapp." Signed at least five times by Hudson, including once on the cover. A note on the inside cover says he lived on Franklin Avenue at East Brooklyn, New York (the second house on the right above Van Buren Street -- he later moved up Franklin Avenue above Myrtle Street). Several doodle drawings, presumably by Hudson, are also on the first few pages of the book. Before the journal begins he provides a list of nine prizes which appear to have been taken by his squadron. Hudson reported for duty on the "Shepherd Knapp" at the Brooklyn…

GLC06664

January 17, 1804

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter

Title: to Thomas B. Adams

Adams, then a Massachusetts senator, writes to his brother about "the receipts and expenditures, upon the Seamen's fund" and the Louisiana Purchase. Discusses the legislation relating to Louisiana that would "tax them, then make a government for them, and at last admit them as a State or States, by Acts of Congress..." Notes that he has finally settled his accounts from when he was abroad working as a diplomat.

GLC06606

1842

Channing, William Ellery, 1780-1842

Pamphlet

Title: The duty of the Free States, or remarks suggested by the case of the Creole

In original wrappers. Channing argues in favor of the slaves who had taken over the Creole, a slave ship. Steering towards the British West Indies, they won freedom under British law, even though the U.S. attempted to reclaim them. Blockson Collection 9370, Dumon p. 36.

GLC06835

2 June 1863

Otto, William T., 1816-1905

Document signed

Title: [Patent for Lewis Tees' improvement in iron-clad vessels]

Signed by Otto as Acting Secretary of the Interior. Countersigned by David P. Holloway as Commissioner of Patents. Tees' written description of his improvement is signed by John Clouds and J. R. Deacon as witnesses. Includes a one-page diagram of Tees' invention, signed by Tees' lawyer Henry Howson, and by Charles E. Foster and Charles Howson as witnesses. Includes a seal and dark green ribbon.

GLC06476

24 November 1776

Whipple, William, 1730-1785

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Langdon

Whipple, chairman of the Marine Committee in the Continental Congress, discusses a former request for money submitted by Langdon, naval agent for Continental prizes and supervisor of the construction of several ships. Regarding the money, mentions Langdon's acquaintances Wharton (possibly Samuel Wharton) and Donaldson. Relates that Congress has agreed to increase the Navy by one ship, and requests that Langdon assist in formulating a plan to procure materials such as iron. Discusses obtaining material from France and Spain. Discusses Langdon's financial situation, prize money procured for…

GLC06518

4 and 7 December 1776

Whipple, William, 1730-1785

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Langdon

Written by Whipple, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, as a New Hampshire Congressman to Langdon as agent for Continental prizes in New Hampshire. First two pages are a letter from 4 December 1776 and is signed "W Whipple" and the third page is a letter from 7 December 1776 initialed "WW." 4 December: previously wrote that the navy will add another ship of 74 guns to be built in New Hampshire. Says he will send the dimensions in a few days and the builders are to make their own drafts. Says the carpenters who built the "Raleigh" will do a good a job as any. Langdon is to…

GLC06519

February 1, 1777

Whipple, William, 1730-1785

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Langdon

Whipple, chairman of the Marine Committee in the Continental Congress, discusses various military and business matters with Langdon, a agent for the Continental Navy. Mentions Miss Wharton. Discusses money submitted to Langdon by the Marine Committee, including a sum transmitted to Langdon by Colonel Bartlett (possibly Continental Congressman Josiah Bartlett). Refers to Mr. Henderson and Mr. [Betten?], who delivered money from Whipple to Langdon. Mentions a ship Langdon was fitting as a result of Mr. Livingston's orders (possibly referring to Continental Congressman Robert Livingston…

GLC06520

12 July 1778

Corney, John, fl. 1778

Letter signed

Title: to John Langdon

Written by Corney as a prisoner of war on the prison ship "Prince of Wales" to John Langdon as military officer in New Hampshire militia and speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives. Says he was captured three days after leaving Portsmouth on 12 June 1778. He was captured by the "Experiment," a 50-gun ship commanded by Sir James Wallace. Says he and Captain Palmer are being kept prisoner with no prospect of relief. Claims Langdon's "Powers of doing us Service, is not Circumscribed by the narrow bounds of one who acts only in a Private Capacity, & for the Service of an…

GLC06524

21 June 1778

Pickman, William, 1748-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Langdon

Pickman, a Salem shipping merchant, states "A most mortifying accident has occurred which will be extremely Injurious to me unless removed Immediately- the Ship Black Prince is now fit for a cruise with every Article Compleat but by some unaccountable delay of Our Court no Commission can now be obtained." Requests that Langdon, a Continental navy agent, furnish him with the necessary commission. States "should Our Ship be detained we may lose every Man." Relates that Captains Smith and Orne (possibly referring to Captain Josiah Orne) "will wait on you with this any Obligation they enter…

GLC06529

6 July 1777

Whipple, William, 1730-1785

Autograph letter

Title: to John Langdon

Whipple, chairman of the Marine Committee in the Continental Congress, informs Langdon that despite the efforts of Captain Dudley Saltonstall, the ship Trumbull remains grounded in a Connecticut river. Discusses the cost of moving the ship versus building new vessels. States that while in New London, Connecticut, he saw the vessel intended for Captain Chew (possibly Samuel Chew). Relates information pertaining to Mr. Shaw (possibly Nathaniel Shaw, a Connecticut shipowner, merchant, and Continental agent). Reports that the vessels Warren, Providence, and Camden are in the Providence River…

GLC06531

5 August 1777

Morris, Robert, 1734-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Whipple

Morris, a Continental Congressman, discusses naval affairs with Whipple, chairman of the Congressional Marine Committee. Refers to a recent motion in Congress authorizing the Marine Committee to halt the construction of several ships of war. Since the motion was carried, relates that a stop will be put on the construction of a ship in the Connecticut River. Refers to Mr. Shaw (possibly Nathaniel Shaw, a Connecticut shipowner, merchant, and Continental agent) and Captain Chew (possibly Samuel Chew). Mentions the ships Alfred, Ranger (Captained by John Paul Jones), and Raleigh (Captained by…

GLC06532

14 March 1780

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Daniel Brodhead

General Washington refers to previous correspondence with General Brodhead, known for leading several military expeditions against Native Americans. Writes that a previously mentioned expedition "against the Natches and the English settlements upon the Mississippi, is now at an end, the Spaniards having already possessed those Posts." Instructs Brodhead not to attack the British force at Detroit, but states "if you think yourself competent to an excursion against any of the hostile tribes of Indians, you are at liberty, as I have mentioned ... to undertake it." Orders Brodhead to supply…

GLC06690

1863-1864

Taft, J. W., fl. 1863-1864

Header Record

Title: Large albumen photographs taken by Memphis photographer Taft

Photographs taken from life by Memphis photographer Taft, beginning with Admiral Porter's flagship U.S.S. Blackhawk, also the U.S.S. Tyler, U.S. Navy gun Bat Brown, the Memphis & St. Louis packet boat "The City of Alton," the U.S.S. Fawn, the U.S. Ironclad gun bat "Carondelet" near Vicksburg, U.S. Ironclad "Indianola, and others. Most photographs are oval images of naval vessels.

GLC06739

3 September 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Legal document involving land agreement with William Duer and Henry Knox]

This document is in the hand of William Duer, but the last sentence on page 3 is written by Knox, who also signed it. States that Duer and Knox accede to the forming of a French colony on their land in Maine, probably in reference to Madame de la Val and Mr. de la Roche's inquiries. Proclaims a need for the boundaries of the colony to be precise. The two parties still need to describe the number of rations that need to be purchased and their price, the number and size of the houses to be built, and the price of the land. Reports that "The Subscriber is of Opinion that a Vessell from New York…

GLC02437.05141

3 March 1784

Doughty, John, 1754-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Major Doughty encloses the last return (possibly GLC02437.10578) of the corps of artillery (Doughty took command of the artillery at West Point after the suspension of Sebastian Bauman which resulted from a disagreement with William Hull, commandant of West Point). Declares, "It is no small misfortune to our little Corps, that on its first formation it should be embarrassed with trifling squabbles about duty, & perhaps had our Commandant diverted himself of his knowledge of foreign services, & attended to the practice of his own, much trouble might have been prevented..." Criticizes…

GLC02437.02970

5 May 1790

Williams, Jonathan, 1750-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Describes an incident that took place between England and Spain and the possibility of the two countries going to war. Says yesterday this country was "surprised by a hot press, which like an explosion swept between 3 & 4000 seamen, and to day we find the course in a Message sent by the King to the House of commons." Evidently, two Spanish ships of war seized two British ships that were trading off the northern coast of America. All of the men who were aboard were sent to a Spanish port as prisoners. The justification of the seizure was that Spain had the "exclusive rights of soverignty […

GLC02437.04594

circa 1780

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: Mensuration of North River at Dobbs Ferry

Map drawn by or for Knox as commander, bearing his emendations and handwritten docket on the verso identifying the map as "Mensuration of North River at Dobbs Ferry," New York. Measured in yards. Date was added later in pencil.

GLC02437.10668

10 June 1792

Beaumez, Sarah Lyons Flucker, fl. 1784-1801

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Mentions the surprise of the arrival of her son Francis, and declares that it shocked her nerves and caused her to be unable to write to Knox. Thanks him for his friendship. Explains how Major [Samuel] Shaw helped escort her sons on board a ship that is taking them to school, apparently with General [Benjamin] Lincoln. Encloses some business paperwork (not present) sent to her by Mrs. Knox and includes information from General [Henry] Jackson about the paperwork.

GLC02437.05499

4 January 1794

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Thomas FitzSimons

Later copy. Encloses estimates of expenses for building and equipping frigates (not included). First estimate was from 1790 and is the most perfect, although the wage rates were too low. The second estimate is accurate, but does not comprehend all the equipment issues. The third estimate was tolerably accurate of those items it comprehended, but he has not had enough time to fully understand it. Noted as copied on 5 December 1857.

GLC02437.06019

7 November 1799

Flucker, Thomas, 1719-1783

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Thomas Flucker writes his uncle Henry Knox to tell him that he has just learned navigation and is set to learn a few things in his training. Flucker is determined to join the navy and is eager to have Knox help that happen.

GLC02437.07324

06 September 1800

Flucker, Francis, fl. 1796-1801

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Flucker says, "the ship Mount Vivian sails from Salem, for Calcutta, fourteen days from this date." Flucker needs to know what arrangements he should make. He has lawsuits pending against him and say "honour" compels him to stay in Boston. "Prison" might be his home as a result. Flucker seems to imply he might be able to escape with the assistance of Knox. Signature has been cut out of the document.

GLC02437.07461

February 2, 1801

Flucker, Thomas, 1719-1783

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Describes his sea voyage and food rations to his uncle Henry Knox. Says they eat beef and beans one day and pork and beans the other day. Mentions one of the vessels has the fever but believes they will not get it. Sends his regards to his aunt (Lucy Knox) and his cousins. Noted written from St. Kitts which is a nickname for St. Christopher.

GLC02437.07502

February 11, 1794

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Thomas Fitzsimons

Per the request of a House Committee, Knox submits, "an Estimate of the probable Expences which would be incurred in securing the SeaPorts, that have been enumerated, from insult or surprize." States that the batteries and redoubts, in order to keep expenses down, should be made of dirt as opposed to masonry. Mentions other positive aspects of using dirt. Suggests stone or wood for places where earth cannot be used. Continues with other suggestions for strengthening areas and lists estimated expenses for some 20 major coastal cities. Pages 1-2 comprise Knox's cover letter; pages 3-10…

GLC02437.10292